Disney's BoardWalk Inn
by the TopOfHotel team
BoardWalk Inn is the 1930s Atlantic City boardwalk resort where opening your door drops you straight into the fun — hat-passing performers, carnival games and restaurants, a 5-10 minute walk into EPCOT, and the Keister Coaster slide at Luna Park (great for older kids and couples, but no character dining).
BoardWalk Inn is the 1930s Atlantic City boardwalk resort where opening your door drops you straight into the fun — hat-passing performers, carnival games and restaurants, a 5-10 minute walk into EPCOT, and the Keister Coaster slide at Luna Park (great for older kids and couples, but no character dining).
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Standard rooms run 371 sq ft, sleep up to 5 and mostly come with a balcony, dressed in a warm, retro tone that fits the resort's 1930s Coney Island character. The whole place is themed as an Atlantic City / Coney Island seaside boardwalk on the BoardWalk promenade along Crescent Lake. Guest reviews land it around 8.6/10, and the line that keeps coming up is that the walkway itself is the entertainment.
Food and amenities
On the dining side there is Flying Fish for signature seafood, Trattoria al Forno for Italian, and snack stops right along the boardwalk. The main Luna Park Pool carries a 1920s-40s seaside amusement theme and hides the Keister Coaster, a 200-foot slide shaped like a wooden roller coaster with a Mickey & Friends design — best for kids who can already swim, primary-school age and up. The one big gap families should know about: there is no character dining here at all.
Location and getting there
The location is the headline draw. As part of the EPCOT resort cluster you can walk into EPCOT through the back International Gateway in about 5-10 minutes, plus walk or take a boat to Hollywood Studios, with the Skyliner nearby. In the evening you can stand on the boardwalk and watch the EPCOT fireworks without entering the park. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, on the other hand, mean taking the bus.
Things to know before booking
Two things to be straight about. First, there is no character dining in the resort — the Bon Voyage breakfast that once featured Rapunzel and Ariel ended in 2020, so families who want the kids to meet characters need to plan a meal at a park or another resort. Second, rooms facing the boardwalk can hear music and crowds late into the night, so ask for a garden or lake view if you want quiet. The theme also leans adult and romantic rather than flashy for little kids, and apart from the Keister Coaster the pool is fairly plain next to Stormalong Bay nearby.
Our take
After reading through real guest reviews, BoardWalk Inn fits families who love EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, have older kids or teens, and care more about atmosphere and a place to stroll at night than heavy theming or character meals. You get a lakeside boardwalk that entertains itself, an easy walk into EPCOT, and the Keister Coaster slide. The trade-offs are no character dining, late-night noise on the boardwalk side, and a plainer pool than the neighbours. Families with little ones who want a big pool and a character breakfast will do better at Beach Club on the same lake.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The BoardWalk promenade is entertainment in itself — after dark there are hat-passing street performers, carnival games, surrey bikes for rent and the AbracadaBar magic lounge, all steps from your door.
- Strong location in the EPCOT resort cluster: a 5-10 minute walk into EPCOT through the back International Gateway, plus a walk or boat to Hollywood Studios, with the Skyliner nearby.
- The Luna Park Pool carries a 1920s-40s seaside amusement theme and hides the Keister Coaster, a 200-foot slide built to look like a wooden roller coaster with a Mickey & Friends design.
- Standard rooms are 371 sq ft, sleep 5 and mostly have a balcony. Dining standouts include Flying Fish for seafood and Trattoria al Forno, plus snack spots right along the boardwalk.
- You can watch the EPCOT fireworks from the boardwalk without entering the park, and the retro setting photographs beautifully day and night.
- No character dining anywhere in the resort. The Bon Voyage Breakfast that once featured Rapunzel and Ariel ended in 2020 and has not come back, so if you want the kids to meet characters at the table you will need to plan a meal at a park or another resort.
- Rooms facing the boardwalk can pick up music and crowd noise late into the night, so ask for a garden or lake view if you want quiet. The theme also leans adult and romantic rather than flashy for very young kids.
- Apart from the Keister Coaster slide the pool is fairly plain — not as elaborate as Stormalong Bay next door — and getting to Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom means taking the bus.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Head out to walk the BoardWalk after dark — hat-passing performers, carnival games and surrey bikes make for free or low-cost entertainment right outside.
- Walk into EPCOT through the back International Gateway in about 5-10 minutes, then come back and catch the EPCOT fireworks from the boardwalk.
- To dodge late-night noise, ask for a room that does not face the boardwalk (a garden or lake view) when you book.
- There is no character dining here, so if you want the kids to meet characters, plan a character meal at a park or another resort such as Cape May next door.